1903 in jazz

• Sidney Bechet borrows his brother's clarinet, and the result is well known.{{cite web | url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/timeline_year.php?pg=9 | title=History Of Jazz Timeline: 1903 | publisher=All About Jazz | accessdate=2018-01-04}}

{{see also|List of pre-1920 jazz standards#1900–1909}}

; January

• 18 – Min Leibrook, American tubist and bassist (died 1943).

; February

• 27 – Mildred Bailey, American singer (died 1951).{{cite web | url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.A2227644?rskey=56bVjw&result=13 | title=Bailey, Mildred (1903 - 1951), jazz singer | website=Oxfordindex.oup.com | publisher=Oxford University Press | accessdate=2018-01-04}}

; March

• 8 – John Ouwerx, Belgian pianist and composer (died 1983).
• 10 – Bix Beiderbecke, American cornetist, pianist, and composer (died 1931).
• 20 – Einar Aaron Swan, American violinist, clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, arranger, and composer (died 1940).
• 25 – Frankie Carle, American pianist and bandleader (died 2001).

; April

• 3 – James "Bubber" Miley, American trumpetist and cornetist (died 1932).

; May

• 2 – Spiegle Willcox, American trombonist (died 1999).

; June

• 3 – Josephine Baker, French singer, entertainer, activist, and Resistance agent (died 1975).
• 12 – Emmett Hardy, American cornetist (died 1925).
• 28 – Adrian Rollini, American bass saxophonist, pianist, vibraphonist, and multi-instrumentalist (died 1956).

; July

• 25 – Happy Caldwell, American clarinetist and tenor saxophonist (died 1978).

; August

• 14 – Jack Gardner, American pianist (died 1957).
• 15
• Joe Garland, American saxophonist, composer, and arranger, "In the Mood" (died 1977).
• Monk Hazel, American drummer (died 1968).
• 24 – Claude Hopkins, American stride pianist and bandleader (died 1984).

; September

• 16 – Joe Venuti, Italian-American violinist (died 1978).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/269802-Joe-Venuti | title=Joe Venuti | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-04}}

; October

• 10 – Lee Blair, American banjoist and guitarist (died 1966).
• 11 – Teddy Weatherford, American pianist and an accomplished stride pianist (died 1945).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/1177747-Teddy-Weatherford | title=Teddy Weatherford | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-04}}
• 15 – Chas Remue, Belgian reedist (died 1971).
• 16 – Big Joe Williams, American guitarist, singer, and songwriter (died 1982).

; December

• 3 – Brad Gowans, American trombonist and reedist (died 1954).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/335476-Brad-Gowans | title=Brad Gowans | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-04}}
• 17 – Ray Noble, English bandleader, composer, arranger, radio comedian, and actor (died 1978).{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/503363-Ray-Noble | title=Ray Noble | publisher=Discogs.com | accessdate=2018-01-04}}
• 28 – Earl Hines, American pianist and bandleader (died 1983).
• 29 – Clyde McCoy, American trumpeter (died 1990).

; Unknown date

• June Cole, American bassist, tubist, and singer (died 1960).

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/timeline_year.php?pg=9 History Of Jazz Timeline: 1903] at All About Jazz

{{Jazz}}

Jazz, 1903 In

Category:Jazz by year